Bright light city gonna set my soul

Gonna set my soul on fire

Got a whole lot of money

that's ready to burn,

So get those stakes up higher

~Viva Las Vegas by Doc Pomus / Mort Shuman

Brooklyn-born Doc Pomus and native New Yorker Mort Shuman composed many hit songs in the 1960s, including “A Teenager in Love,” “Turn Me Loose,” “This Magic Moment” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” They wrote 15 songs for Elvis, including some used for his movie soundtracks, like the title song for Viva Las Vegas. Three of their collaborations reached the Top 5: “Little Sister” (#5), “His Latest Flame” (#4) and “Surrender” (#1). Pomus also worked with Leiber and Stoller on “She’s Not You,” a #5 hit record for Elvis in 1962.